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I am new here and don't know if this has been covered before so excuse me if so, but I am having issues with my son throwing his food. He is 16 months and actually does pretty good with a fork or spoon. But he either throws his food down on the floor or sends it sailing across the room by wiping his tray really fast. I've tried telling him no and patting his hand saying no but he thinks that is soooo funny we should do it again. I hate to take his food away too because he will actually eat a bite, throw two handfuls, eat a bite, toss some more. Are there any tricks that work other than feeding him outside?

My 15 month old tries this too - she'll do the fast wipe back and forth on her high chair tray, sending food flying.

We've just had to be really firm about it. If she does it once (or throws something once), I tell her that if she does it again, dinner is over (or lunch, etc). If she does it again, I take her tray away.

This generally causes her to scream, but in my experience it's really the only way for them to learn. Last night she was in the mood to do this instead of eat, and I wound up taking her entire tray away without her ever putting a bite of food in her mouth. I kept offering her the option of going back in her chair and eating, and she just kept saying no.

Just be persistent and consistent and he'll get the hint.

Oh - and welcome to the site! I can't wait to learn more about you.

Same boat, here! That wiping motion is the worst!!!!

This just started with us... 23mos. I have found that when he does this, he is finished even though he hasn't eaten much. His way of cleaning off his tray, I guess. But, like you, I want to stop.

It is very frustrating.

I can relate too!
Jack does this. I hate it.
We hold his arms for a minute and say no. Or I take his food away for a few minutes before trying again. But this age is tough. He thinks it's a game.

LOL! It's so funny that they all seem to do similar stuff. My 15 month old does the same thing. Wipes his hands back and forth really fast and sends food flying. A stern no has usually done the trick for him. He thinks it is so funny. He get's so excited and laughs, which makes it hard for me not to laugh.

Ronald is just starting with the spoon and fork, and he is at the stage where he wants to do everything himself. I can't give a bowl or plate though, because it will wind up in the floor just like half of his regular food does. My dogs don't complain though.

Ah the joys of toddlerhood. A problem too is sometimes we cannot help ourselves but laugh! One night Nikolas was going at it tossing his food and tossed a handful of stuffing right on my husband's shoulder! It was hilarious! Unfortunately it has begun in restaurants. He used to be somewhat civil in public and only sneak food onto the floor under his fathers seat..hehe. But the other night he took on a food flinging fit and I ended up wearing sour cream and lettuce on my leg and butt. Nice.
Oh well, this too we shall overcome..lol.

Ronald's favorite trick is to push the top of his sippy cup onto the tray of his highchair and let the juice leak out. He then smacks and wipes his hands in it until he and the floor is covered with whatever he was drinking. The grin on his face gets sooo big. It was cute the first time until I had to clean the carpet (unfortunately my dining room is carpeted). Now..not so cute. I have to watch him more closely with his cup now.

I see I'm not alone with the "push down the sippy cup top so that it leaks everywhere" thing. There was a couple of weeks we went through a phase where he would take a drink from the cup and let it run out of his mouth onto his stomach and all over the floor. Now I don't let him walk around carrying a cup for fear of that happening again. And the good ole fast swiping of the high chair tray while it's got juice on it. That's always a fav here.